Improvement in clothes-sprinklers



I'. G. JOHNSON. Clothes-Sprinkler.

No. 220,077. Patented Sept. 30,1879.

wma r UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

FRANK Gr. JOHNSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTH ES-SPRINKLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,077, datedSeptember 30, 1879; application filed September 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Gr. JOHNSON, of the city of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulClothes-Sprinkler; and I do hereby de- Clare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my device, and Fig. 2 alike view of a modification thereof.

The nature of my invention relates to improved means for dampening orsprinkling clothes preparatory for the smoothin g-iron, as for laundryuses; and consists in a vessel made from tin or other metal or metals,and of convenient size and shape for use with one hand, and soconstructed that when dropped into water it will till itself properlyand float on the surface in a position ready for use. It is,furthermore, provided with a means to regulate the outflow of thesprayed water by the actuatinghand which controls it, as a valve.

The sprinkler is not, however, limited to laundry use, but will be foundconvenient for wetting floors, carpets, indoor plants, 811e.

In its construction I prefer the shape ot' a truncated cone, as shown inthe drawings, of which A represents the body or conical cylinder, and Bthe base, or, as in this case, the top, soldered thereon. O shows aperforated cupshaped plate soldered to the opposite end. D represents atube passing through and soldered to B, so that its outer end extends ashort distance above the top, and the inner or lower end a properdistance'below it, within the vessel, all which, when properly made andthrown into a basin of water, will lill itself by the small punctures inthe lower end at O, the displaced air passing out by the tube D. At thesame time, as the vessel tlls it will assume an npright position, andsink until the water reaches and closes the lower end of D to about theline E, when, as no more air can escape, no more water can enter, andthe vessel will iioat by the air retained in the top part. A similareffect will, however, arise if a permanent airchamber be formed in thetop 0f the vessel by soldering a disk to the inside in a position' asshown by the dotted lines at E.

In operating the sprinkler, it will be best to use two or more in thebasin at a time to insure having one always tilled ready for use. Thetop should be grasped between the ends of the fingers and the palm ofthe hand, which will also close the tube-orice at D, when, on liftingthe vessel, the atmospheric pressure will prevent the water fromescaping.n Raise the hand even with the ear and strike sharply forward,pointing toward the work. The motion will admit air and spray thewater.With a little practice the action will be easily controlled andei'e-cted.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A floating selflling clothes-spririkler provided with an air-spaceand vent-tube,"sub stantially as described.

2. A floating self -illing clothes-sprinkler provided with a vent-tube,adapted to be operated by the hand of the operator as a valve to admitair to the sprinkler, substantially as described.

FRANK G. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

R. E. JOHNSON, t E. G. LUND.

